#snippets and bits

[mothfables]

Without warning, Ravio scoops Legend up off the ground, one arm under his hips for support. The other boy squawks, flushing bright red as he stammers in surprise.

“You’re tired, honeybee. Pretend all you like, but I can see it in your eyes.” That shuts him up and he bites his lip, glancing away. Ravio looks around at the rest of them. “You all make yourselves at home. I’m going to put this one to bed.”

With that, he starts towards the stairs, Legend beginning to protest loudly as he goes. The other heroes muffle their laughter.

“I’m perfectly capable of going to bed by myself! You don’t need to carry me like I’m some helpless little —!”

“You’re going to bed, and you’re going to stay there, or I’ll have Sheerow watch you to make sure you don’t try anything.”

“You keep that bird away from me!”

[zombubble]

For this blog's inaugural Six-Sentence Saturday, I present to you all this snippet from chapter one of In Memory; In Truth:

“It never ceases to horrify,” Lan Zhan says softly, “one merely becomes more adept at handling it.” Sizhui says, “I see. I wonder, why us, though? Why did Mo-gongzi hide us and not people who needed help more than we did?” “That ghost’s power rendered you and the non-cultivators equal,” Lan Zhan says. Given the evidence—how quickly it arrived and tore through a household, the ease with which this thing slaughtered over a hundred people and the sense of power to which bystanders have attested—the juniors stood no better chance than even the least of the Mo Family’s servants. “In the aftermath of such a thing, cultivators are of more benefit. Such slaughter often leads to great resentment.”

I would have posted it earlier but I forgot to make the banner this week and wanted to do that, first. As it is, I have 9 minutes until Saturday ends where I am, and so this is Technically On Time.

[colleenmurphy]

"So what do we do when faced with confrontation, Colleen?"

"Physical violence?"

"No...we use our..."

"Brute force?"

"No. Colleen I don't think you're getting this we use our communication skills to talk."

"If I say "Hey Fuck Face?" before knocking their lights out does it count?"

"Technically...yes..but we don't do that."

"I'm HEALED! Check's in the mail, Doc. Buh-Bye!"

*door slams*

[aroaceleovaldez]

i have suddenly become obsessed with a theme that HoO established but never proceeded to extrapolate on, which is:

You are Percy Jackson, and you have been swapped with a boy who was allegedly everyone's favorite person, but they have decided to replace him with you. They just met you. You stand next to his best friend and the people he's known his entire life. In his home. In his cloak. In his place. They stopped looking for him.

You are Jason Grace, and you have just found out you have a long lost sister who completely replaced you in her life with this girl you just met. Your lives and personalities are mirrors. She is you, living the life you were robbed of.

You are Annabeth Chase, and you have just become starkly aware that you have been inhabiting the void left behind by your best friend's long lost brother. You and Luke were just replacements for him. Now you have to look him in the eyes when he has nothing and know you took that life from him.

You are Piper McLean, and you have just found out your relationship is fake and built entirely on the memories of Annabeth Chase. You have been given a boyfriend when hers has been taken away. You have no idea how much of it is real or not but regardless you feel like if your relationship isn't exactly in their image that you have failed.

You are Leo Valdez, and you have just learned that you are the echo of your great-grandfather. You are not your own person. You just exist to be a mirror of him. A doppelganger. An actor and stunt double facing all the danger he never had to but wearing his face. To be there for his best friend decades later simply because he couldn't. You are playing a role. A seventh wheel and a pawn for a goddess who carefully sculpted your entire life for her own purposes.

You are Hazel Levesque, and the only reason you are alive is because your brother couldn't save your his sister. You are a consolation prize. An apology. Your existence here is misplaced in every way but you inhabit it anyways.

You are Frank Zhang, and you are a shapeshifter. Inhabiting your own body feels strange and clumsy when you could be literally anything at any time. You are anything and everything and live your life with the simple certainty of knowing exactly how you will die.

[cubedmango]

「安達が魔法使いにならなかった世界線の話」 + 「もしもの話」 — english translation

[salamispots]

wip wip wip

[quadrantadvisor]

Ranch 2 has infected my brain and I blame u lol

LMAO WELCOME TO THE CLUB, it really does just do that. Someone needs to get this boy some ectoplasm I am so serious rn.

prompt | pt 1 | pt 2 | (inspo)

You inspired me to keep going for a bit, so here's a direct continuation from what I posted in pt 2!

“Did you see that?” Tim asks. “Uh, yeah,” Duke replies, unthinking. Tim is suddenly in his space, eyes wild. He grabs Duke by the shoulders, shaking him slightly. “Duke. Duke, you have to tell me what I just ate.” “I dunno, man!” Duke is at a loss for how to deal with this. He has the training to handle freaking out civilians, but it's somehow different when it's Tim. Tim's the one with the plan, the one who's supposed to know what's going on. But he doesn't, and Duke is embarrassed to realize that it's leaving him floundering. “They're just- I mean- there's these little pockets of energy, I see them floating around Gotham sometimes, I don't really know what they are! How did you grab it? How did you eat it?” Tim goes still and serious, and grips Duke's shoulders harder. “I don't know either,” he admits, “but that was it.” “That was what?” Duke asks, still feeling unbalanced by the manic gleam in Tim's eye. “That was ranch 2.” Duke gapes. “You're messing with me.” Tim shakes his head. “That was it,” he says emphatically. “It had the spark, the zing feeling I was looking for. Whatever sort of energy that is, my soulmate needs it.” Duke gulps, then nods. “Okay. Okay,” he says, trying to calm the both of them. “Then we'll get it for them.” Some of the tension falls out of Tim in what looks life relief.

[mellohiizz]

I am still not over him... Also, I guess you guys can have a small nibble of Wifiescest just as a little treat. I found the song Real Boy by Lola Blanc after forgetting about it for years and went wait a moment... this reminds me of someone...

[assortedcriminality]

snippet #2

Hero looked up from their anxious pacing and let out a sigh of relief as a dark shape dropped into the alley. “Villain,” they breathed, stepping forward and throwing their arms around their lover’s neck. “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”

“Well, I’m here now,” Villain said, carefully removing the arms from them. It was always a shock to see Hero in civilian clothes, with their hair down and their face clear of disguises. Not exactly like a regular person, because they could never be regular. That smile, their laugh, those beautiful eyes--it would all make them stand out in any crowd. 

“So… what is it that you want to talk about?” Hero asked, bringing Villain back to the present. 

Internally, Villain steeled themself for what they were about to say. They stood up straight, tossed their head, and put on their best smirk. “I just thought you’d want to know the truth about our relationship.”

Their lover looked taken aback. “Oh…well, if there’s something important I should know…”

“It’s very important,” the criminal assured them. “So important you’d better run back to Superhero and tell them everything I’m about to say.”

Hero’s eyes widened. “What? Is Supervillain planning something, or-“

Villain laughed. “It’s not Supervillain’s plan, dear. It’s mine. And it worked perfectly.”

Their nemesis took an unconscious step backward, confused and a little wary. “I don’t understand.”

“Oh, but you wouldn’t. You were always clever, I suppose, but you’re far more gullible than you think.”

“V-Villain, what-“

“What I’m trying to say,” they continued, “is that this was fun, but I have what I came here for.” They grinned at the dumbstruck Hero. “What, still don’t get it? I made you love me. None of this was ever real.”

Hero’s mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. They were too shocked to speak. Tears started forming in their eyes. 

Villain chuckled. “It started out as a ploy for information, of course. But once I saw how hopelessly you fell for me, I decided to stick around and see what else I could get.”

“But-but I never told you anything about the agency, or-“

“Darling, you really think you didn’t tell me anything? You betrayed yourself and the agency to me so many times, it’s laughable.”

Fear crept into Hero’s face. “N-no. It’s not possible.”

The criminal sighed. “When are you going to get it into your head that I won? I’ve been lying to you for so long, and you never even noticed.”

“I don’t believe you’re that good of an actor.” Their fists were clenched but trembling, doubt creeping in through the cracks despite themself.

“Oh, I’m a terrible actor,” Villain said, examining their nails uninterestedly. “You’re just that big of a fool.”

Hero sobbed, stumbling back until they hit the alley wall and covering their face with their hands. It was true, then, they thought hopelessly. This was nothing like the person they had dated. They didn’t know them at all…

“Oh, don’t cry, darling,” Villain soothed. “It’s not your fault. But really… if you couldn’t see what was right in front of you, are you sure you’re cut out for the hero business?”

Anger and misery were boiling over in Hero’s mind. They shoved their hands out in front of them, a burst of power blasting their enemy away from them. Villain put their arms in front of them to protect themself, but even now, they could tell Hero wasn’t really trying to hurt them. 

“Leave me alone!” The crime-fighter cried, tears dripping from their chin. “Go! I never want to see you again!”

Villain shrugged. “Whatever you want, love. But think about what I said, will you? It might be time for a career change.” They gave Hero one last dazzling smile and lifted off into the sky. In the alley below them, their former partner slid to the ground and buried their face in their knees. Villain could hear their sobs echoing in their ears all the way back to their base. 

Once they got there, they looked around to make sure all of their henchmen had gone home like they’d ordered. When they were sure they were alone, they pulled out their phone and dialed a number with shaking hands. 

Supervillain picked up immediately. “Did you do it?”

“Yes. And you’ll uphold your end of the deal?”

“As long as you stay away from them, Hero will be safe from me.” The smile in their voice was evident. “Pleasure doing business with you, Villain.” And with that, they hung up. 

Numbly, Villain set down their phone. Their heart felt like someone was squeezing it out of their chest. Hero’s heartbroken face was floating in front of their vision, in so much pain, all because of them. How could they do this to someone they loved so much? But how could they not, with someone as powerful as Supervillain threatening their lover’s life? 

“I’m so sorry, Hero,” they whispered. They lowered their head, eyes closing in defeat. “I’m going to keep you safe. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Only then did they finally allow themself to cry.

word count: 858

[mothfables]

@cripple-cat

Four was sitting against one of the trees behind Wild’s house enjoying a book when he heard footsteps approaching.

Most of the time the other heroes left him alone when he was reading, acknowledging his need for time to himself, only tending to bother him if he was needed for something. Whoever it was coming towards him now didn’t seem to want his attention- in fact it seemed like they didn’t want him to notice them at all, steps quiet and careful.

Glancing up from his book he saw Legend, tiptoeing barefoot through the grass towards him.

Legend looked up at almost the same time and froze, the veteran hero’s eyes going wide. After a moment he glanced around, like he was making sure there was no one else outside, before scurrying over the rest of the way to where Four sat. Four noted he was still walking on his toes.

When he reached the smith, Legend didn’t sit but instead swayed in place, licking his lips nervously and not meeting his eyes.

“Uh- um. Could you, um.” He stuttered, staring at his toes instead of looking at Four. He began fidgeting with his fingers, and Four realized they were bare of his usual array of rings, leaving only his heart and green holy rings. “I was, um, w-wondering if...”

He trailed off, voice quiet and shy in a way Four had never heard before from the older boy. His shoulders were hunched inwards and he kept playing with his hands, ears tilted down. He looked... small.

Four tilted his head in thought. Legend rarely initiated interactions outside of teasing or bets, and when he did it was usually confident and sure. He was hardly ever shy, and certainly never so quiet.

The longer neither of them spoke the further down Legend’s ears went. He began to turn away, drawing into himself dejectedly, and something in Four’s chest clenched.

“Hey, hold on. I haven’t said no yet. You haven’t even asked me anything.”

Legend turned back at that, a tiny flicker of hope in his eyes that he was trying hard to hide. “B-but you, um, y-you dun’ like it wh’n people b’ther you.”

Four ignored the odd way he was speaking in favour of giving him a reassuring smile. “Normally, yes, But you’re not bothering me. Promise,” he added at Legend’s doubtful look. “What it is you want to ask me?”

Legend bit his lip nervously. “C-could you... couldyoureadtome?” he asked in a rush.

The smith blinked in astonishment. Legend wanting to spend time with him was already a surprise, but wanting to be read to? He shook it off quickly, though, instead patting the ground on his left with another smile. “Sure. Come sit with me? It’s always nicer to read when you’re sitting down, in my opinion.”

The other boy lit up and bounced happily, dropping down to sit next to Four and drawing his knees up to his chest. Four found where he left off before beginning to read aloud.

A few minutes passed where the only sounds were Four’s voice and the chirping of birds. Then there was a pressure on his shoulder; glancing over, he saw Legend curled up against his side, eyes fixed on the book in his hands. One of Legend’s hands drifted up to his mouth almost subconsciously only to be snatched back down.

The whole thing was a little odd, but it didn’t seem harmful, so Four decided to let it be. He continued reading, leaning his head on the other boy’s and earning a happy little sound. Legend curled closer, one hand clutching at Four’s sleeve as the other came up to his mouth again. He didn’t seem to notice.

[wordsofwilderness]

Found this beauty in my writing notes:

[villain-enthusiast]

CAN YOU PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do dom villain x dom hero (maybe a sprinkle of nsfw- not explicit though!) I love your blog and youre so good at writing!

OH YEAHHH. 😝

-

“Get the fuck out of my way.”

The villain arched a brow, casually leaning their shoulder into the doorframe of the entrance they were blocking. “No.”

The hero stormed up to the villain, jabbing a finger into their chest. “Don’t think you’re some kind of martyr,” they hissed between bared teeth. “I have a job to do.”

The villain blinked slowly at them, a show of smug, egotistical elegance. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

“Don’t question my competence,” the hero snapped. “I’ve done my research on these people, on these murderers. I know exactly who’s in this building and I know exactly what to do with them.”

The villain sucked on their teeth, as if they found the hero’s rage amusing. As if this was all a fucking joke. As if the mafia group past this entrance wasn’t getting further away with every passing second—

“You can yell at me all you want about competence and research.” The villain’s dark stare glittered with something incomprehensible. “You won’t get past me.”

Fuck this. “I’m not going to tell you again.” The hero maintained eye contact, sending the hellfire of their emotions into their glare. “Get the fuck out of my way.”

The villain leaned forward suddenly, bearing down so they were eye-level with the hero. The tip of their tongue wet their bottom lip, and the hero’s gaze—so, so traitorously—flicked down to follow the movement.

Teasing. The villain was teasing them.

Fuck. This.

”Then move me.” A rugged smirk tugged at the villain’s mouth, begging a challenge. “I’m not doing anything except blocking the doorway, sweetheart.”

The hero scowled, eyes flicking up and down the villain, assessing their body; that incredibly toned, impossibly muscular body—

“Fine,” the hero spat, flinging their arms out to grab the villain and shove them away—

The villain moved lightning fast.

Before the hero could even fully process what happened, they found themselves pressed against the brick doorframe, trapped between the wall and the hard planes of the villain’s body. Even their wrists had been caught and pinned above their head with one hand.

The hero sputtered.

“Hmm,” the villain mused, their breath tickling the hero’s cheek. “Well that didn’t last long, did it?”

”Fuck you,” the hero snarled, struggling against the villain, pulling at their incapacitated arms. They were left panting and shaking hair out of their eyes. “Fuck. You.”

The villain chuckled lowly. “You don’t have to tell me twice, love.”

The hero felt their cheeks burn. “Shut up and let me go.” Shit, their target was probably already gone by now.

The villain fake-pouted. “Can’t you spare a few minutes here with me? You know I’ll make every second count.” Again, their eyes sparkled with that unintelligible emotion, and again, their stupid tongue ran over their lips, wetting them.

God, it made the hero want to do unspeakable things. Things they would obviously never, ever do—

Target. Mafia. Job. The hero’s mind flailed for footing, footing that was quickly disappearing as the press of the villain’s muscles against their own became more and more apparent.

”Fuck, hero,” the villain breathed, as if they too were losing all semblance of control. Their head dropped into the crook of the hero’s neck, lips just grazing their collarbone.

The hero inhaled sharply, biting down on the inside of their cheek.

Target. Mafia. Job.

The villain’s breath was hot against the bare skin of their shoulder, scattering their common sense. Too close. Everything was too close.

“Hero,” the villain said again, and the way the name rolled from their mouth was almost like a plea, or maybe a prayer.

Whatever it was, it was the hero’s undoing.

“Two minutes,” the hero gasped out. “Only two—,”

Once the villain’s lips made contact, two minutes quickly became the rest of the night.

[stars-obsession-pit]

Amanda Waller scanned through another lengthy report from the leadership of the Ghost Investigation Ward. Worthless. So much posturing, yet not a single important development in their research.

She made a mental note to try to replace whoever wrote the report with someone less prone to bullshit. Not that the odds were great of finding suitable replacements—all her most competent and loyal agents were tied up dealing with more pressing concerns.

For all the dangers ghosts and ectoplasm posed, they were at least rare. Natural portals were uncommon and typically short-lived, and earthbound shades were weak enough to pose little risk. The development of anti-ghost weaponry was vitally important for real national security but could, for now, be left on the back burner without too much direct oversight from her.

Then one single line caught her eye. An offhand mention. Independent ghost hunters Jack and Madeline Fenton claim to have created a functional ghost portal.

It probably wasn’t true—lord knows she’s seen plenty of hoaxes before—but something about it made her pause. It might be finally time to send transfer some of her better agents to the Ward to look into things properly.

[trashpocket]

taliyah drawing page :333

I MISS HER SM, I MISS HER, I MISS HER, WAHHH, I MISS HER SM WAHHHH

anyways, what would her college course be

[helps-the-writing-brain-go]

Billy eats.

The plate raised up through a seam in the floor glitters, polished to a mirror shine and edges gilt in gold. The "food" is a small pile of appealing shapes - ovaloids, frustums, spherocubes and the like in pastels and soft jewel tones.

Supposedly, it's meant to stimulate omnivorous appetites, but everything Billy mechanically shovels into his mouth tastes like ash.

He can't think like this. Can't observe. If he does, he'll go back to thinking about the source of this food.

Another bite. It dissolves on his tongue without much prompting. He barely has to swallow. Useful, when he can barely bring himself to do so.

Something needed to be easy, where gaining it hadn't been.

Hard-won, the kinder would call it. Lucky shot, would sneer the meaner.

[But all Billy can hear is the wet splatter as skin split under his knuckles, neon pink fluid hot and stinking of something like diesel smearing his face, and that awful, awful click as something gives way in its throat and it stops-]

Billy's stomach roils and he bites his lip, clamping a hand hard over his mouth.

He can't vomit. He can't.

He needs this energy. Wasting it after all that-

Don't think about it.

Billy breathes hard through his nose, shaking. His eyes dart to and fro, trying to latch onto something in the present.

The lavender frustum in his hand has crumbled like wet sand. No structure beyond the surface, no support to resist his grip. No juice or crumbs will hit the floor he knows. No mess to be cleaned up.

Billy shovels the rest of it in his mouth before it can disappear fully.

He needs this.

It still tastes like ash.

[o3o-lapd-o3o]

'friends in higher places' au masterlist

tumblr posts:

the thread that started it all - part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4

dinner scene - part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 (is planned)

poseidon snippets (not chronological) - part 1 | part 2 | part 3 (i have an idea)

other bits - potential future thoughts | a potential angsty idea |

ao3:

chapter 1 | chapter 2 (coming soon?) |